Hidden-Vane Air Vent for Directional Flow Without Visible Dust
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air vents for vehicles lack the ability to efficiently direct airflow externally while minimizing visible dust accumulation and maintaining a clean exterior, and they often suffer from vortex formation and directional airflow limitations.
Innovation Solution
The air vent design features a housing with opposing air guide surfaces and movable vanes that adjust the ratio of volumetric flows through multiple air ducts, allowing for directional airflow control without visible vanes, and includes an air guide element to prevent vortex formation and accommodate mechanical coupling for precise flow adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional air vents use visible vanes to direct airflow externally, then airflow direction control is achieved, but dust accumulation becomes visible on the air vent surface
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the airflow control function from the external visible surface by placing vanes inside the housing. The vanes are positioned within the air ducts and only become visible when adjusted to extreme positions, otherwise remaining hidden. This separates the control mechanism from the visible exterior surface, eliminating dust accumulation issues on control components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the airflow control mechanism from the two-dimensional external surface to the three-dimensional internal volume of the housing. By positioning vanes within the air ducts and using the internal space for mechanical coupling components, the design hides control elements from external view while maintaining full functionality.
2Device complexity
If air vents use simple single-duct designs, then device complexity is reduced, but airflow direction control precision and versatility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the air vent into multiple independent air ducts (first air duct, second air duct, third air duct) that can be independently controlled. Each duct has its own vane and can be adjusted separately, allowing precise control over airflow direction from multiple zones. This segmentation enables versatile airflow patterns while keeping each individual duct relatively simple in structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional air vent system where multiple air ducts serve different airflow control purposes. The mechanical coupling component provides universal adjustability across all vanes, allowing coordinated movement while maintaining independent control capability. This enables the system to adapt to various airflow requirements without needing completely different designs.
3Productivity
If air vents use internal airflow guidance structures, then vortex formation is prevented and airflow efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into integrated structures. The air guide surfaces serve both as structural elements defining the air ducts and as flow control surfaces that prevent vortex formation. The vanes are integrated with the air guide surfaces, eliminating the need for separate mounting structures. This merging reduces overall device complexity while maintaining airflow efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design enables precise control of airflow direction, minimizes dust accumulation, and prevents vortex formation, ensuring a clean and efficient airflow pattern that is perceivable externally without obstructing illumination, thus enhancing user experience and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
the movability of the first vane and the second vane is designed such that the ratio of the first volumetric flow to the second volumetric flow can be adjusted by means of the position of the first vane and the second vane
Implementation Method 2
a first air guide surface, which is located in the housing and has a first bulge, and a second air guide surface, which is located in the housing and has a second bulge, wherein the first bulge faces a first direction and the second bulge faces a second direction
Implementation Method 3
the arrangement of the first vane on the first air guide surface has a first axial hinge-connection of the first vane to the first air guide surface, wherein, due to the first axial hinge-connection, the first vane can be swiveled about the first hinge-connection relative to the first air guide surface
Data Source
AI summary
An air vent comprising a housing, an air inlet opening, which is located in the axial direction of the housing, and an air outlet opening, which is disposed opposite the air inlet opening, a first air guide surface, which has a first bulge and is disposed in the housing, and a second air guide surface, which has a second bulge and is disposed in the housing, wherein the first bulge points in a first direction and the second bulge points in a second direction, wherein the first direction and the second direction oppose one another and extend perpendicularly to the axial direction, wherein the first air guide surface and the second air guide surface are disposed at a distance from the housing, wherein a first air duct is formed by the housing and the first air guide surface, and wherein a second air duct is formed by the housing and the second air guide surface, wherein the first air duct is designed to convey a first volumetric flow of air—which can flow into the housing through the air inlet opening—to the air outlet opening, wherein the second air duct is designed to convey a second volumetric flow of air—which can flow into the housing through the air inlet opening—to the air outlet opening, comprising a first vane and a second vane, wherein the first vane is movably disposed at the end of the first air guide surface facing the air inlet opening, and wherein the second vane is disposed at the end of the second air guide surface facing the air inlet opening, wherein the movability of the first vane and the second vane is designed such that the ratio of the first volumetric flow to the second volumetric flow can be adjusted by means of the position of the first vane and the second vane.